90,000 Pakistani army prisoners did not surrender to the Indian army. They surrendered to the Bangladesh-Indian joint force. I demand that this copy of historic facts should reach every Indian house. Firstly, the documents should be sent to the “Gunday” director's home.

Mrityunjay Devrat, who is the director of the film “Children of War” based on the Bangladesh Liberation War has expressed his displeasure for the film in an interview with Bollywood Hungama, questioning the way the war was depicted:

If I am allowed to be honest, then I'd have to say that the makers of Gunday have been factually incorrect. I think it is hugely irresponsible and derogatory to use a sensitive subject such as the Bangladesh war for purely commercial purposes.

Yash Raj films has apologized in a statement on their blog for “any disrespect or hurt” that the film has caused Bangladeshis.

To confront this crusader onslaught against Islam, which is being orchestrated by the leading criminals in the subcontinent and the West against Islam, the Prophet of Islam and the Islamic creed, so that they may turn you into slaves of a despotic and disbelieving system.

The entire clip lasting 28 minutes and 58 seconds, titled “Bangladesh: Massacre Behind a Wall of Silence”, features the message from al-Zawahiri along with his image as well as others, such as the Hifazat's rally in May last year. Aaron Y. Zelin, who runs the site Jihadology, reported in an interview to EuroBDNewsOnline.com that he is certain that this voice is of Ayman al-Zawahiri.

Recently in Bangladesh, religious extremist organizations like Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami and Hefazat-e-Islam have engaged in a lot of violence. Some netizens have speculated that the call for jihad in Bangladesh is somehow related.

Jamaat, who once worked fought against the liberation of Bangladesh from Pakistan, had always denied their involvement with militants. However, Mofaqkharul Taufique wrote that Jamaat can no longer deny the truth given this video:

In this video message, Al Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri has openly supported Jamaat. Can anyone deny that Jamaat is not a militant organization?

Jamaat and Hefazot both have officially denied any involvement with Al Qaeda.

Activists of Hefajat-e Islam march as part of its Dhaka siege programme to press home its 13-point demand that includes the arrest of atheist bloggers. Image by Firoz Ahmed. Copyright Demotix (5/5/2013)

Dr. Imran H. Sarker, a blogger and the spokesperson for the Shahbag movement activists, a movement that supports the death penalty for liberation war criminals, wanted to hear reactions from other political parties:

Al-Zawahiri called for resistance in Bangladesh – this video is a source of a hot debate. First we need to determine whether the video is credible or genuine. We need not worry even if this is true. This is not Afghanistan or Pakistan. We Bengalis know how to fight. Our fathers and brothers did not fight the independence war to let Al Qaeda reign. Our loved ones know how to prepare ourselves for fight.

A K M Wahiduzzaman wrote that this video has another purpose – to spark debate in the political arena:

When there are talks in the country about extrajudicial killings of security forces, even some countries have cancelled training for these security forces amidst the controversy. At this very moment, a video released by the Jihadology.net site and made by Al Shahab media is being highlighted by BDNews24.net to harp on militancy issues.

If this was real, international media and Al Jazeera would have made it top news a month ago.

The government is investigating the threat by Al Qaeda, but State Minister for Home Affairs Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal does not see it as a big threat. Security Analyst Major (Retired) Abdur Rashid said in an interview with BBC Bangla that Bangladesh should not take it lightly:

Although Al Qaeda has been weakened, a number of dedicated followers of them exists in Bangladesh. We cannot rule out any violent activity by them after the support of Al Qaeda.

Ishfaq Ilahi Choudhury, a retired air force official and a security analyst, commented in an op-ed in the Daily Star:

Those of us who dream of a democratic state, a multi-religious, multi-cultural society, an educated, healthy and prosperous nation, the Zawahiri message, even if it is a hoax, is a stark reminder that we have an enemy at the gate, and only together we can defeat it. We as a nation need to close ranks on the minimum agenda, and on the question of fighting religious extremism there is no other option but a national consensus.

February072014

February 5th marks the one year of the Shahbag Movement in Bangladesh. A three day long event (5-7 of February) was celebrated in the country and abroad to mark this movement. Images and information of the celebration can be found in the Gonojagoron Moncho Facebook page.

February022014

Rapid Action Battalion personnel pose with the mastermind of the Kishoreganj Sonali bank heist, Sohel (in red-white shirt), and his assistant along with the recovered 165 million taka before the press at the elite force's headquarters in Dhaka. Image by Reza Sumon. Copyright Demotix (28/1/2014)

The mastermind behind the biggest bank robbery in Bangladesh history has been arrested.

“Sohel” along with accomplice “Idris” pulled off a Hollywood-style bank heist of 169 million Bangladeshi taka (about 2.2 million US dollars) from Sonali Bank [bn] in Kishoreganj, 130 kilometers north of the capital Dhaka, by digging an underground tunnel 30 feet long to reach the bank's vault.

The feat was short-lived and they were nabbed by police two days later with most of the loot. Sohel confessed to the daring plot, admitting that he had planned [bn] the heist two years ago. Accordingly, he rented a house next to the bank and started digging the three-foot-wide tunnel. After a year and a half, he said could reach the bank's vault. He did all the digging during business hours in broad daylight when there was a lot of noise on the street, so people didn't suspect anything. Sohel even managed to start an affair [bn] with a bank employee to gather information for the theft.

Netizens have been widely discussing the robbery on social media. Many have pointed out this crime's resemblance to Hollywood blockbusters like “Sherlock Holmes”, “The Bank Job”, “Shashank Redemption” and “The Lady Killers” and Bollywood movies like “Dhoom 3″.

There was a similar story in a Sherlock Homes movie where a tunnel was dug from a nearby home. Perhaps even professional thieves have been astounded by Sohel's feat. I was surprised to learn that so much money was kept open in the bank. Is there no secured drawer in the vault in that branch?

Shihab Shahin commented in the same report:

‘দা ব্যাংক জব’ চলচ্চিত্রের ছায়া অবলম্বনে নির্মিত!

This heist is planned according “The Bank Job” movie.

Mumin Hemin commented on online portal BDNews24.com's report that the thief should have taken a cue from the film “The Italian Job”:

He completed the job with patience. His head is cool, that is evident. He did not panic seeing a lot of money. He went home, prayed his Isha prayers (!!) and then secured the loot solemnly. With that coolness, he could be an actor in the sequel to “Shashank Redemption“. But he should have watched “The Italian Job” a few times. The heist isn't everything, you have to keep that money. :D

On Facebook, Shahriar Tanvir called this robbery a copycat of “The Lady Killers”:

So sad to see Habib alias Sohel, the hero of the “operation Sonali Bank Kishoreganj” movie, being arrested by Rapid Action Battalion (RAB). Such a creative, talented and patient human being should be employed for a good cause.

Science-fiction writer Shezan Mahmud also expressed his sympathy for Sohel:

I feel sorry for Sohel and his assistant because they were finally caught with all that money. He dug the tunnel for two years to steal (I won't say rob) the money, but he was caught before enjoying the loot (it is harder to keep than to earn). If only they could learn how corrupt politicians, bureaucrats and unethical businessmen loot more than that and know how to hang on to it. There is no respect for perseverance in this country. We acknowledge Sohel's perseverance at least.

On Facebook, Zico suggested that the thieves’ talents should be employed to complete the design for road construction in Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh:

January212014

Screenshot from the cover of a Meena comic book. Image courtesy UNICEF

Only two decades ago, the status of many women in some South Asian countries was low. Many girls in rural areas were not allowed to study. Girls were inevitably married off as soon as they grew up, so what good was studying? Boys would get the best of the households’ food, the girls the leftovers.

But this discriminatory mindset has changed tremendously, in part thanks to a cartoon character.

The fictional character Meena stars in the South Asian children's television show of the same name. Promoted by UNICEF, Meena and her TV show is very popular in the region. UNICEF developed the Meena Communication Initiative (MCI) as a mass communication project aimed at changing perceptions and behavior that hamper the survival, protection and development of girls in South Asia.

Bangladesh was the first country to meet Meena when a film about her struggle to go to school aired on Bangladesh national television (BTV) in 1993. The secondary characters of her stories include Meena's brother Raju and her pet parrot Mithu.

Since her inception 14 years ago she has shown millions of women and girls what can be achieved. She has delivered messages on issues as far reaching as solving the problem of bullying through to challenging the stigma of HIV/AIDS through to girls’ right to play sport. The Meena stories are highly entertaining and fun, but also reflect, at their core, the realities of girls’ lives in South Asia.

Meena has spread messages to stop child marriage and the practice of dowry and promote healthy toilet use, sending girls to school, equality between boys and girls and the right to education for the domestic workers. Her shows highlights the potential contributions to society that girls can make if provided an equal playing field.

How can a message spread by a small cartoon girl be so empowering that it has helped change the society radically? Housewife Naznin Rahman told the Daily Prothom Alo [bn]:

My mom Zohra Begum has taken dowry for her two elder sons. In those days, Meena was not aired. Since she started watching Meena, she had developed a special sympathy for girls in particular. When she had her younger son married, we realized how she was affected by Meena. She did not take any dowry for my younger brother.

Shuvo Ankur wrote on the BDNews24.com's kids page about the positive changes Meena has provoked:

Meena achieved popularity from the start. The changes were visible soon after. Earlier, in rural areas girl students dropped out of school and ended up working as a housemaid. But the situation changed after Meena's show began airing. On screen, Meena was also not allowed to go to school first. But she changed her lot and got permission to go to school. Meena's wit and intelligence allowed her to learn to count and other essential knowledge to save her father from the deception from other people. She saved their cows from a thief. Her intelligence became popular, and the negligence of girls in South Asian countries slowly started disappearing.

Sohanur Rahman [bn] wrote on Kishorebarta that there is a lot to learn from the cartoon show:

Everyone loved Meena from their childhood and everyone, regardless of age, watched the cartoon eagerly. I also used to watch it. May be Meena’s accent struck to my mind since then and I believe that feeling helped me in my voice over for Meena.

Every year on 24th October “Meena Day” is observed in Bangladesh to promote social awareness on 100% enrollment of kids in school, avoid dropouts and ensure proper education.

According to reports [bn], Meena has also become popular outside of the South Asian region. It has been dubbed in more than 30 languages such as Arabic, Burmese and Chinese. You can download free Meena comic books from here.

January122014

A student lifts up a textbook during the “Textbook Festival Day” program organized bythe Education Ministry in the capital's Government Laboratory School. Image by Firoz Ahmed. Copyright Demotix (2/1/2014)

More than 37 million school students in Bangladesh have received nearly 300 million free school books from the government as part of “Textbook Festival Day” on January 2, 2014, setting a new world record in free textbook distribution, according to Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid.

One of the aims of the annual textbook festival, which has been held since 2011, is to combat illiteracy in the country. According to UNESCO, about 80 percent of youth are literate in Bangladesh.

In the past few years, the country has made tremendous progress [bn] in its education sector. Bangladesh has achieved almost 100 percent enrollment of eligible children in primary schools, male-female student parity, and ensuring free textbook for all. In 1991, the rate of enrollment was only 61 percent. In 2011, the rate rose to 98.2 percent and in 2012 to 99.47 percent. The rate of female enrollment in primary schools increased from 32 percent to 51 percent and in higher secondary from 18 percent to 54 percent of total students.

The date January 1 meant a day of joy, which makes me happily jealous, if I were like them I would be part of the celebrations. But it is grand is to see all those happy faces of the children.

I remember that only five years ago there were no guarantee for the students when they would receive books. It would be pure luck for the students if they could get one or two books from the whole set after three months. Both my parents were primary school teachers. They would worry a lot how they were going to carry on with teaching the curriculum in the absence of books till February or March.

Those who think that Bangladesh is not progressing, they are not aware of Bangladesh. I know how it is leaping forward. [..]

Please be happy that the new generation received new books on time. When you look back at this moment one day, like I am doing, you will have lived through that progressive Bangladesh, and I am very much jealous.

Political violence has been a feature of many people's lives in Bangladesh, including children. Freedom fighter and activist Akku Chowdhury wrote:

this is the kind of Bangladesh we would like to see…Children happy with new books seeking knowledge….not Children with gun powder learning to make human BBQ….we want violent free democratic and peaceful nation moving forward with the spirit of liberation war….we want leaders ready to walk the talk…leaders who lead by example….we want politicians who considers power as a public service but not self service to become wealthier….joi manush (hail humans)

January092014

People from various cultural and social platforms mounted a demonstration in Dhaka against attacks on religious minorities after the 10th national elections. Image by Rahat Khan. Copyright Demotix (8/1/2014)

Minority groups in Bangladesh, especially Hindus, have become easy targets for anti-vote activists following the country's tense 10 national parliamentary elections. Homes and other properties have been attacked, torched or vandalized, and many have been forced to live under open sky in the meantime.

The elections on January 5, 2014 were met with violence in some areas; many opposition parties led by the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) have boycotted the polls, leaving ruling party candidates unchallenged. They continue to protest against them.

Some victims said they were attacked because they voted in the elections. Shah Ali Farhad (@shah_farhad) wrote in Twitter:

The BNP-Jamaat protesters attacked minorities in Jessore and Dinajpur because they voted in the recent elections. In Jessore 150 houses were looted by Jamaat miscreants and burnt. In Dinajpurmore than 100 Hindu shops and houses were attacked by BNP-Jamaat goons. Our government is trying to help the victims. We are trying to identify the culprits and place them under trial as soon as possible.

The planned attacks on minorities are an attempt to divert attention from the voters’ absence and enthusiastic boycott of the farcical elections amid criticism from national-international organisations.

In Bangladesh, it isn't unusual for these types of attacks to happen after elections. Writer Joydeep Dey Shaplu requested on Facebook to relieve Hindus of the responsibility to vote:

In 2001 I was a victim of post-electoral violence. I have seen in #Rajgonj how Hindus lost everything and lived under the open sky. If you are not a victim, you can never know that pain. Some of them migrate leaving their ancestral home. Some of them do better, save their lives by escaping. But I cannot. I don't want to leave my country. What will happen to me or my child… Can anyone tell?

The Daily Prothom Alo, a leading daily of the country, has been accused [bn] of instigating violence against the Hindus by publishing an image of minorities waiting to vote, making their Hindu identity prominent by doctoring the photo. In response, Kulada Roy wrote on Facebook:

The election has ended with much violence. BNP-Jamaat boycotted the polls. The daily Prothom Alo published a big picture with their main election news on the front page. There it is shown that Hindu women were standing in queue to vote. Prothom Alo with this photo tried to imply that in a low-turnout election, mostly minorities voted. Not people from the majority Muslim population.

Prothom Alo with this picture is provoking the BNP-Jamaat protesters to retaliate against the Hindu communities [as they did not listen to their call to boycott the polls]. After the news was published, we have seen attacks on Hindu houses in Avoynagar of Jessore, Dinajpur and Thakurgaon.

The newspaper, however, denied [bn] that no published photo was photoshopped. But netizens still accused [bn] the paper of selectively highlighting minorities and publishing hate-filled comments in the comments section of the article.

Many people from Hindu communities have migrated to other countries in the past decades. Blogger Avijit Roy provided some statistics:

In 1941 the ratio of Hindus in present day Bangladesh was 28 percent. In 1947 after the partition of India the figure dropped to 22 percent when the mass migration started. The following decades saw an increase of attacks on minorities and the continuation of migration. The figures dropped further in 1961 to 18.5 percent, in 1974 to 13.5 percent, in 1981 to 12.1 percent and in 1991 to 10 percent. In recent times, it is assumed that the figure has dropped further to 8 percent.

These continuous attacks on minorities have disgraced the nation, wrote Zahid Newaz Khan:

The media were vocal in highlighting pre-election violence across the country. At the same time, they were mentioning that without the opposition, this election has become a farce, so people are not participating. But nobody is telling the truth, the daily lives of people have been disrupted due to constant blockades, violence. They are seeing that BNP-Jamaat have been attacking the government openly. How dare people go to the polling stations (risking their lives)? Don't think that the journalists don't know this.

Voter turnout was varied in different centers across the country. In some stations, there were the usual crowds, while others were deserted.

Voters surround a polling agent to collect their voting number in Dhaka-6 constituency during the elections. Image by Firoz Ahmed. Copyright Demotix (5/1/2014)

A man stands guard in front of vote center at Pilot Girls High School in Nobabgonj near Dhaka. Image by Mamunur Rashid. Copyright Demotix (5/1/2014)

The parties protesting against the election have claimed that voters have rejected this election. But journalist Naim Tarique blamed the opposition for intimidating the voters:

You have burnt those schools to stop the elections, grilled a polling officer with fire, intimidated voters to not to go to the polling stations. And still you claim that the people have rejected the election. You did not let them freely decide.

There have been cases of attacks on voters on their way to polling booths. Shawn Ahmed (@uncultured) tweeted:

In the district where The John Green School is, Muslim extremists beat a man to death and injured a few others. The victims’ crime? Voting.

Because of the opposition boycott, 154 contestants were elected before any votes were cast for the lack of challengers, so there were no election held in those constituencies. Many regretted this fact that they could not vote. Amiya (@amiya23) wrote on Twitter:

I was so excited to have gotten my National ID, just so I could #vote. This joke of an #election aside, God knows when I'll be able to vote.

In this one-sided election we know that the chosen candidates are favored to win, so why would vote rigging be required?

The opposition led by BNP has not backed down from their protests and has announced fresh programs of 48-hour nationwide strikes along with the previously declared nationwide blockade. General people fear renewed violence across the country.

The holding of today’s 10th parliamentary election in the absence of the main opposition party can only be justified on the basis of constitutional necessity. The results cannot and should not be viewed as a mandate to rule for a full term. [..]

We acknowledge that today’s elections neither resolve the political crisis nor bring an end to the issue of representative elections that are the people’s right. We call on both AL and BNP to move forward together to give the people elections acceptable to all.

Many are still looking forward to a meaningful negotiation and an inclusive election. Journalist J. E. Mamun hoped for such an election soon:

Many polling stations across the country are being burnt to halt the elections. I heard the news and sat in front of the TV only to find that the burning houses are actually local government schools. Fire is engulfing an array of schoolrooms. What we call a polling station one day in some years are actually educational institutions. We have seen that people are being burnt for no reason in the name of politics. Now the labs for forming people are being burnt.

Writer and educationist Joydeep Dey Shaplu denounced the arson and reminded that Bangladesh already does not have enough schools for its huge population:

I don't know whether schools are burnt during war. But whatever is done, there is a thought, how the country will progress after the war. In our country, the developing education sector (in its own war of decreasing illiteracy) is being destroyed. A little sickness heals, but if you are crippled, you will suffer for life. If you cripple the nation in the name of protest, how will you take this country forward?

On Twitter, media worker Jabed Sultan Pias (@piasbd) wrote that he lost his first school in his hometown to fire:

Opposition party supporters set a van on fire at Shanti Nagar in Dhaka ahead of the Bangladesh National Party led 18-Party Alliance’s countrywide 84-hours strike. Image by mamunur Rashid. Copyright Demotix (9/11/2013)

There was a report published recently that BNP has given up on resisting the elections. After that, the party of war criminals Jamaat entered the charade of showing who's in control. They have already used petrol bombs on people in buses, houses and are not below such extreme violence like burning schools.

In countries with mature democracies, the governing parties don’t leave office during elections because everybody plays by the rules. But in Bangladesh, the tradition is to mistrust political leaders and expect that they will abuse power to rig votes. That's why the Bangladeshi constitution previously required a caretaker government to assume power during elections. However, in 2011 the parliament unilaterally abolished this system, allowing for general elections to be held under elected partisan governments.

The BNP led opposition had been demanding a caretaker government for the election since the passing of the 15th amendment to the constitution. Instead the government made a counter proposal to install an all-party interim government headed by the existing Prime Minister. The opposition refused. Since then, there have been a plethora of protests, including general strike, blockades, agitations, long marches etc.

Dr. Badiul Alam Majumdar, the editor of Suhshashoner Jonney Nagorik (Sujon), a civil society think tank, opined in an interview with the Daily Kaler Kantha [bn] why the opposition is not willing to make compromises:

The opposition thinks they will not win the election if it is held under the ruling party. They will only win if a neutral caretaker government runs the election. They do not want to be lenient, because they know if they are flexible, they are more exposed to the risk. The risk is losing the election. There is no option in Bangladesh politics to accept defeat. This is power politics.

On October 25, the day the election commission declared the schedule for the elections, the opposition, led by BNP and Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, immediately refused it. They started their infinite strikes and blockade programs that crippled the country.

Violent protests

The protests to postpone elections and to establish a neutral caretaker government by the main opposition parties have led to violent protests and the deaths of 111 people [bn] in the past month alone.

A report by Human rights organization Ain O Shalish Kendra (ASK) says that violent political clashes in 2013 left 507 people dead, including 15 members of the police and two of the Border Guard Battelion, and 22,407 people injured (See Global Voices report).

Today is the last day of the year. Begging you Ma'm for the last time, please leave the road of violence… Except for some Jamaat-Shibir extremists you are alone. Please be mindful about the development of the nation.

There have been many international attempts to mediate between the feuding parties. The United Nations General Secretary Ban Ki Moon sent a letter to both the Prime Minister and the leader of the opposition urging them to meet and negotiate. He also sent a special envoy to Bangladesh. Many ambassadors and members of civil society have tried to mediate. But all efforts have failed due to the rigid stance by both leaders. This is why the country now heads for an opposition-less election.

Without a single vote being cast, Bangladesh's ruling Awami League and allies have won more than half of the seats in parliament because an opposition boycott has left so many candidates without challengers.

For months, opposition supporters have engaged in violent protests across the country to stress their demands. This has caused huge and costly damages and hampered the day-to-day lives of citizens.

Police fire water cannon, tear shell to stopped a procession by lawyers supporting the opposition BNP and its ally Jamaat-e-Islami near the Supreme Court in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Image by Zakir Hossain Chowdhury. Copyright Demotix (29/12/2013)

Sajeeb Wajed Joy, the son of Prime Minister, admits on Facebook [bn] that the opposition boycott puts the validity of the election in question, but says the election must be held to uphold the constitution (the constitution requires a parliamentary election be held before January 24):

[..] We have to ensure that a constitutional vacuum does not arise, we have no option other than this election even it will not be perfect. The onus to uphold the constitution is on us. If you do not want others to gain power through unconstitutional means then please go to your nearest polling station and please do vote.

[..] Would it be wrong to conclude that the question of exercising our right to vote, an election by the people, means nothing now? As many voters in the country know from the already declared results, their votes have no value. In this case the government, not the boycotting opposition, has discouraged voters from going to polling stations on the day of the election. So this has given more cause not to cast votes than the opposition call to “ignore” or “occupy”.

[...] Just as Obaidul Quader said in a press conference, after the election of January 5 they will hold a negotiation to arrange an all-party, free and fair and democratic election. He himself knows that the January 5 election will not be democratic.

On Twitter, Mahbubul Karim has named the 10th national parliament election a “selection”:

The talk of the town is that democracy will be hindered as all parties are not participating in the January 5, 2014 election. As much as there is truth in that statement, a higher truth is exposed to the citizens. Instead of being frank to solve the basic problems of the citizens, these governments are eager to extend their terms/grab power for the next five years. Because both the major parties are neck-and-neck when it comes to corruption and abuse of power. In this case I actually want to see the inevitable winners of the January 5, 2014 election, the Awami League, be in power as long as it takes to complete the ongoing trial of war criminals.

The Prime Minister says [bn] the opposition party boycott is to blame for the uncontested winners in more than half of all constituencies.

December222013

The world’s largest human national flag of Bangladesh created at the National Parade Ground in Dhaka on 16 December, 2013, marking Victory Day. Photo by Indrajit Ghosh. Copyright Demotix (16/12/2013)

On 16 December, the 43rd Victory Day commemorating the triumph of Bangladesh over Pakistan in the country's Liberation War in 1971, Bangladesh broke two world records. The first one was forming the world's biggest “human” national flag. 27,117 volunteers from the Bangladesh Army, educational institutions and the general public stood with red and green placards to form the flag in Dhaka's National Parade Ground. The flag was visible for 6 minutes and 16 seconds.

The second record was the largest number of people singing the national anthem simultaneously, with more than 300,000 people at exactly 16:31 on 16 December singing “Amar Sonar Bangla” marking the exact moment that Pakistani forces surrendered. Many people from Bangladesh and also from different corners of the world joined in the event, which was held in Suhrawardi Uddan, the precise location of Pakistan's surrender.

Pakistan held the previous record for the largest human flag. 24,200 people held up green and white boxes at the National Hockey Stadium in Lahore on 31 October, 2012. India held the previous record for singing the national anthem, with 121,653 people singing simultaneously.

Tens and thousands of people joined in singing Bangladesh's national anthem at Suhrawardy Udyan on Victory Day in Dhaka. Photo by Mamunur Rashid. Copyright Demotix (16/12/2013)

Most Bangladeshis were particularly proud and happy about these world record feats, thanking organizers for the good news. Ishtiaque Ahmed hailed the news:

I am pleased with the fact that on this auspicious day of victory we have broken Pakistan's record. We have once again defeated Pakistan.

Farhan Bashar participated in the national anthem singing event at Suhrawardi Uddan. He shared his experience:

What a pleasant feeling bestows on my heart as I sing our enchanting national anthem and declare my unity with the positive force of independence & victory loving people of my country. May all the independent & liberation opposing forces go and burn in inferno.

December192013

Bangladeshi people protest against Pakistan's condemnation of the execution of Jamaat-e-Islami leader Abdul Quader Mollah near the Pakistan High Commission in Dhaka. Photo by Kazi Sudipto. Copyright Demotix (19/12/2013)

Bangladesh's execution last week of Abdul Quader Mollah, the assistant secretary general of right-wing Islamist party Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, for crimes against humanity committed during its 1971 war for independence from Pakistan has caused a serious rift in the two neighboring countries’ relationship.

Pakistan's lower house, the National Assembly, adopted a resolution on 16 December 2013 expressing concern over the hanging of Quader Mollah five days earlier, with some members claiming that the real reason behind his execution was his “loyalty to Pakistan”.

A special war crimes tribunal had convicted Quader Mollah earlier this year of 344 counts of murder, rape and torture during Bangladesh's bloody liberation war from Pakistan in 1971 and sentenced him to life in prison, but hundreds of thousands of people converged in a central intersection of capital city Dhaka to demand capital punishment in what became known as the Shahbag protests. The government eventually appealed Quader Mollah's sentence, and he was condemned to death.

Every political party including the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), except the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) and the Awami National Party (ANP), present in the house supported the resolution moved by the Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan.

Pakistan Jamaat-e-Islami has commented that Quader Mollah was hanged because “he was loyal to Pakistan and supported the Pakistan army during the 1971 war”. Interestingly, Quader Mollah claimed during his defense that he did not take part in the killing of at least 381 unarmed people in Dhaka's Mirpur and Keraniganj areas in 1971, but rather he trained to participate in the liberation war and was awaiting his turn in Faridpur to join the battle against Pakistan (he joined Jamaat-e-Islami in 1979). The statement that “he was loyal to Pakistan” seems to contradict his defense.

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party Chairman Imran Khan also claimed that Quader Molla was innocent and charges against him were “false”.

Bangladesh protested immediately, requesting that Pakistan refrain from such “interference” in its domestic affairs. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned Pakistan High Commissioner Mian Afrasiab Mehdi Hashmi Qureshi on the evening of 17 December to inform him of the government's unhappiness with Pakistan's “completely untrue, biased and absolutely inappropriate” remarks.

The war of words spilled over onto the Internet, where the truth gave way at times to propaganda. After the execution of Qadir Mollah, his alleged last letter circulated on the Pakistani blogosphere and social media. The source of this letter could not be confirmed. The Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami website doesn't have any Urdu letter or any content similar to this one available.

The likely fake last letter of Abdul Qadir Mollah

“The Last Letter of Abdul Qadir”.

I am given new clothes. The water for bathing is in the bucket. The officer on duty orders me to take a bath quickly. Every sepoy peeps in. Some are sad and some are happy. Their continuous movement disturbs my recitation of the Quran. I have Tafheem e Quran of Sayeed Modidi in front of me, here is the translation:

“Don’t be sad, you will overcome them if you are a Momin”

Subhan Allah! There is satisfaction in these words…I have a request to you all that stay firm… I can see this path leads to heaven.

Your Muslim brother

Abdul Qadir Mollah

Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan organize a protest rally in Islamabad against the hanging of Abdul Quader Mollah Jamaat, leader in Bangladesh. They offered prayers in memory of the executed opposition leader and lambasted the Bangladeshi government. Photo by Taseen Farooq. Copyright Demotix (13/12/2013)

Hundreds of members of Jamaat-e-Islami held protests in Pakistan against the execution in Lahore, the capital Islamabad and Peshawar. Jamaat-e-Islami chief Syed Munawar Hassan said the governments of Pakistan and Bangladesh were under the influence of India. The protesters offered funeral prayers in absentia for Qader Mollah.

Senior journalists in Pakistan also participated in the “Gayabana Namaz e Janaza” (last prayers in absentia) in Islamabad. Twitter account Save Bangladesh tweeted a photo in which Hamid Mir and Mushtaq Minhas, seasoned journalists, appear in the first row:

Meanwhile, the banned Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militant group threatened to attack the Bangladesh embassy in Islamabad.

Bangladeshis were no less vocal in protesting pushback from Pakistan. The country's prime minister strongly condemned Pakistan for its reaction to the execution. Newspaper articles criticized the Pakistani resolution. Some bloggerscalled for severing diplomatic ties [bn] with Pakistan in protest.

People from all walks of life staged angry protests around the country on the 18 December. The next day, police wielding batons forced back a group of young people on their way to lay siege to the Pakistan High Commission in the capital’s Gulshan area. Six activists were arrested and dozens were injured.

They had repatriated all Bengali families residing in West Pakistan to Bangladesh by 24 March 1974, and (in return) the Bangladesh government handed over the 195 war criminal soldiers to Pakistan along with all the charges and evidence for easy trial. The understanding was that Pakistan will take the responsibility of punishing these soldiers. [..]

But Pakistan did not keep its word. They did not face any trial. Rather celebrations were undertaken for their release.

December182013

On December 19, 2005, Bangla Blogging started its journey through the largest Bangla Blogging platform Somewherein.net [bn] and the community grew larger every year. A section of the Bangla bloggers’ community started to observe December 19 as Bangla Blog Day since 2009 to mark the inception.

The fifth Bangla Blog day will be celebrated [bn] on 19th of December, 2013. Unlike the previous years, instead of a main program in the capital, there will be decentralized local community based programs in differentparts [bn] of the capital Dhaka and in different [bn] cities across the country. The theme of this years events is “From social welfare to national interest, Bangla blog is for the right for freedom of speech”.

Abdul Quader Mollah, the assistant secretary general of right-wing Islamist party Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami convicted of crimes against humanity during Bangladesh's bloody liberation war from Pakistan in 1971, was executed inside the capital city Dhaka's Central Jail late 12 December 2013.

The hanging sparked a wave of deadly violence from supporters, leaving several dead and a number of homes and businesses torched.

Quadar Mollah was the first to die for war crimes committed during the struggle for independence, in which an estimated 300,000 and three million people were killed and 200,000 women were raped. Jamaat-e-Islami joined forces with Pakistan's secret service to form militia groups such as Al-Badr (“the moon”) to fight against the nationalist movement and freedom fighters. These forces aided Pakistani forces in the killings.

As a member of Jamaat's student wing Islami Chatra Sangha, Quader Molla joined Al-Badr and, according to charges framed against him, led a mass killing in Mirpur, thus earning the name Butcher of Mirpur among locals. He was also responsible for the shooting of 344 people, the rape of an 11-year-old girl, and the beheading of a poet.

After the formation of Bangladesh's International Crimes Tribunal in 2009 to prosecute those who participated in the war's genocide, he was arrested 13 July 2010, and more than a year later on 18 December 2011, he was formally charged with six charges and 344 counts of murder. On 5 February 2013, he was given a life sentence, with an additional 15-year sentence, for his crimes.

An ambulance carrying the body of Abdul Quader Molla leaves the Dhaka Central Jail after his execution for war crimes. Molla was hanged at 10:01am on Thursday night and the ambulance left at around 11:14pm. Photo by Anwar Hossain Joy. Copyright Demotix (12/12/2013)

In response to the protests, the Bangladeshi Parliament passed a bill on 17 February 2013 amending the International Crimes (Tribunal) Act of 1973, which allowed the government to appeal sentences. The government appealed against Quader Mollah's first verdict, and on 17 September 2013, the Bangladesh Supreme Court found him guilty of murders and other war crimes and converted his life sentence to a death sentence.

So far, 12 people excluding Quader Mollah have been arrested and the trials are ongoing in different stages. A number of them have already been awarded with sentences ranging from life imprisonment to death. Members of political party Jamaat have led protests against the trials, alleging that the government is trying to suppress the opposition through the trials.

On the day of the execution of Quader Mollah, an influential political leader from North Korea Jang Song Thaek was executed. North Korea doesn't bother any country so it is hard for others to stick their noses in there. But what happened to the human rights organizations? They could have protested. Did anyone do it? I googled and found none. [..] I am witnessing selective concern of human rights amongst the people of the world.

From the opposite camp, Shahnur Begum (@ShahnurBegum) addressed those who were celebrating the execution:

The irony is that the verdict, which came after 42 years and was executed, was meant to be part of the reconciliation and a way forward, but instead it had divided the nation. [..]

After the execution of Quader Mollah, violence led by supporters of Jamaat left several people dead. Activists also vandalized and burnt minority Hindu homes and shops, and the home of one judge working in the war crimes tribunal was attacked with a petrol bomb. The party has maintained that the execution was politically motivated and has called for a dawn to dusk strike on 15 December 2013.

Jamaat has unleashed a wave of planned violence stemming from the execution of Quader Mollah. Hindu installations, government offices, private commercial premises, transport are the focus of their destruction. This requires a massive coordination between Jamaat central command and the arms of violence. So it is mandatory to resist the violence and rampage and arrest the masterminds.

Activists of Jamaat-e-Islami and its student wing, Islami Chhatra Shibir, torched four private cars and five motorcycles including two of police personnel at Motijheel in the capital after the Juma prayer. Photo by Reaz Sumon. Copyright Demotix (13/12/13)

The international mainstream media had provided wide coverage on the execution of Quader Mollah. Many of them termed him as an Islamist leader, which journalist Pallab Muhaimen protested on Facebook:

Quader Mollah is being named as an “islamist leader” on two fronts. One: Jamaat is propagating this. And two: the Western mainstream media. Why is it too hard to write “war criminal”? Only exceptions are Reuters and AFP who had mentioned about his war crimes.

December132013

Protest in Dhaka, Bangladesh. A mob torched and vandalised a village of Buddhists in Cox's Bazaar's Ramu Upazila In one of the worst religious attacks in Bangladesh apparently triggered by a Facebook posting allegedly defaming the Quran. Image by Zakir Hossain Chowdhury. Copyright Demotix. 29th September 2012

Subrata Shuvo at Banglablogging platform Amra Bondhu (We are friends) shares the fear and plights of Non-Muslims as racial attacks on them are on the rise, especially during the political disturbances. He shares a story from Chittagong:

One drunken vagabond was paid Tk. 50 ($0.63) to throw bricks on a Mosque. The drunk just did that. Then rumors were spread via mosque loudspeaker that Hindus started attacking the mosque and damaged it. It in the blood of the Bengalis. They bought the rumor started vandalizing Hindu homes and shops. The main focus of these attacks was looting. If they can evict Hindus then land-grabbing. The beauty of spreading the rumors is that you get the license to loot. That's the main agenda. If you get more information about these attacks you will know. You will see that the cash boxes of Hindu temple were emptied, idols of precious metal missing, or loss of other valuable items.

December042013

During the recent political violence in Bangladesh there were many instances of petrol bomb attacks on public transport full of passengers which killed and injured many. A video emerged in Facebook [bn] last May posted by a radical person on how to make a petrol bomb and throw it to political opposition and policemen. The video also included violent messages (in Bengali) which was widely shared. A snapshot of the narrative:

The violent political crisis currently plaguing Bangladesh is having deadly consequences [en] for the country's people, who have borne the brunt of a series of politically motivated attacks in the last few weeks, such as the November 28 petrol bombing of a bus [en] full of passengers in Shahbag [en], near the center of capital Dhaka.

That attack killed three people, including a 10-year-old, and severely injured 15 others. Several others have died in similar incidents around the country.

The rash of violence began after Bangladesh's election commission declared at the end of November that parliamentary elections will be held on January 5, 2014. The opposition parties - Bangladesh Nationalist Party and Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami party – have rejected [en] the timetable, and are calling for the country's prime Minister to resign and for elections to be held under a neutral caretaker government.

The resulting protests and road blockades have at times turned violence, with activists hurling crude bombs at vehicles full of passengers or derailing trains [en] killing a number of innocent people. The violence in recent weeks has claimed more than 50 lives and left 2,000 people injured [en]. Several opposition leaders have been arrested during the protests on different charges, and a number of party activists have died during violent clashes with the police.

A patient being taken for treatment at the Dhaka Medical College who sustained burn injuries after an unidentified attacker threw a petrol bomb inside a moving bus in Dhaka. Image by Naveed Ishtyak. Copyright Demotix (28/11/2013)

Friday [29 November, 2013] early morning. Dhaka-Bogura Highway. Around 500 vehicles were stuck in a traffic jam due to a protesting road blockade. Suddenly, they were attacked by small explosive devices and bricks. Massive violence. No respite for women and children. More than 100 passengers hurt.

Friday early morning. Feni-Dagonbhuiyan night coach attacked. The passengers were beaten, robbed. The bus was torched after pouring petrol.

Friday 1 a.m. in the morning. Dewanpara at Rajshahi-Naoga Road. Four trucks containing rice were torched. A van carrying medicine was not spared.

These are the snapshots of the 72-hour blockade undertaken by the [Bangladesh Nationalist Party and Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami] 18-party coalition. There is no innovation in the nature of protest. Seems violence and attacks are the norm.

In places like Sitakunda, Comilla and Chandpur, it's a common scene during the blockade that a passenger bus or delivery truck are attacked indiscriminately. Planned attacks on unprepared citizens. Political barbarism on the highways.

A procession of death is marching through our country. One by one, innocent people are joining that procession. It occurs to me that I may be included in that at anytime, or my school-age brother. I anxiously wait for his return every day, wait for the call… “sister, please open the door”. I hope that he would not end up… like Monir. Again… the phone rings and I think… is it Dad… or someone else has a bad news regarding Dad.

Violence during protests organized by Jamaat-e-Islami and its student front Islami Chhatra Shibir left several vehicles damaged at Dhanmondi in Dhaka. Image by Sk Hasan Ali. Copyright Demotix (1/12/2013)

Left-wing political leader and economist Anu Mohammad questioned how much innocent passersby should be forced to bear:

Bloody violence to secure who will rule this land. A brutal conspiracy is being played. Every day people are being burnt, being killed! Most of these people were out on the streets during the blockade to earn their bread. There is no statistics for how many are losing their limbs due to injuries. How insignificant are these lives? The powerful are so greedy!

Facebook user Shariful Hasan urged the political parties to end the animosity and leave the people out of it:

I loathe those who play dirty politics with the voters to stay in power. I despise those who burn their own countrymen. I reject those who are destroying peace in our country. My petition to the patriotic politicians: Please free the citizens from your war for power. We want to live in peace.

Sardar Faruk wrote how fear now grips people on their daily commutes to work:

We have to run the risk of death to go to the office. I was observing my fellow passengers on the public bus this morning. Nobody was talking, but were rather looking out the window in anticipation of an unknown fear. It felt like I was a death penalty convict in a prison van.

Blogger Arif Jebtik also reiterated the fear of a bomb being hurled by the protesters:

My wife would go to Dhaka University campus; I would go to watch the election of the Dhaka Reporters Union. We usually go together when we have to go in the same direction. This morning was no different.

But our sleeping child caught our eyes while we were leaving. I said “let's go separately.” In this crazy time, it's not a good idea to risk being killed together. If we go separately, worst case scenario at least one of us would survive to take care of the next generation.

Blogger Lina Ferdous accused politicians of scheming to climb over dead bodies in order to hold on to power:

How many men would die to make this blockade a success.. How many would die to awaken humanity?..
Instead of being burnt one-by-one, let's burn together.. Let them decorate their throne with our cremation fire…

On Twitter, Falguni Mitu ‏asked:

How many burning bodies will satisfy them? How much blood they want to see before they stop? #JS_polls#shahbag

The opposition leaders have said in their political speechs that they are undertaking steps like blockades and strikes to establish democracy. Mahbubul Alam Shohag (@Mahaburs) [bn] criticized this point:

Is this a democratic right? The political parties which derail trains by damaging tracks, torching buses…

Shima, who is six-years-old, suffered burns when the bus she was traveling on was attacked by protesters angry that people were working during a strike. Image by Mamunur Rashid. Copyrght Demotix (18/11/2013)

The authorities have so far failed to arrest anyone for these subversive acts which caused many people burn to death. Journalist Shaugat Ali Sagor blames the government, writing on Facebook:

Those who are creating anarchy by burning people, uprooting railway tracks, why is the government failing to nab them? If they cannot provide the security, then what is the purpose of the government? If they cannot catch the terrorists, they should apologize and resign from power. The barbarism in the name of politics cannot continue.

Is their no one for humanity? Have we all become animals? No groups or organizations? I urge people to take back the country. Resist those who endorse burning innocent people as a political act.

Please resist them with all your might. Those who are burning our fathers, mothers, sisters, brothers or relatives, please do something against them. How long will you be running away? If you cannot do anything, just spit on them. Can't you even do that?

Different groups and organization are arranging small protests against these attack on innocent people. A Facebook event has been created titled “Stop burning people in your war for power” by a group called Citizens Resisting Violence. They arranged a protest rally in Shahbag area on December 3, 2013.

November222013

White patches of cloud drifting in the sky. A lonely bird is flying. Image by Ashraful Alam, Baily Road, Dhaka. Used with permission.

The Bengali calendar is made up of six seasons, with two months comprising each season. Now is the Hemonto (হেমন্ত), or the dry season. During this season, the sky comes alive with vibrant color, from deep blues and pristine whites to the golden shades of dusk. Snowy patches of clouds hang overhead, and the sun warms the air.

Such was the scene on 17 November, 2013, with the striking beauty of the sky overwhelming the horizon above Bangladesh's capital city Dhaka. Talk of the stunning sight spread like wildfire on social media as netizens shared their beautiful images on Facebook and Twitter, some using the #Dhakasky hashtag. Even some newspapers featured them.

November132013

Hijras, a South Asian feminine gender identity that some people who are born male or intersex adopt, will now be considered as a separate gender in Bangladesh, allowing them to identify themselves as hijra on official documents such as passports.

The country's prime minister announced the government's decision on 11 November, 2013, on the heels of Germany's announcement that it will begin to offer a third gender option on birth certificates.

There are currently at least 10,000 hijras living in the country. The decision is a victory for hijras, a type of third gender who identify as neither male nor female, throughout the country. These individuals experience abuse of their rights from family and society at large, such as being forced to live together in secluded communities. Hijra organizations have demanded official recognition as a third gender.